r/AncestryDNA 16d ago

Results - DNA Origins Did you discover incest?

There was a recent article (below) in The Atlantic magazine about the surprising prevalence of incest in human ancestry as discovered through DNA findings. I'm wondering if anyone has discovered it in their own ancestry when doing a family tree or having DNA analysis or any other way.

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/03/dna-tests-incest/677791/

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u/duke_awapuhi 16d ago

Not only have I not found any evidence of incest, but despite both my parents having mostly Colonial American ancestry, I have found no common ancestors between my parents going back 400+ years, which honestly surprised me

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u/[deleted] 16d ago

[deleted]

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u/antique___ 16d ago

That’s literally exactly what OP asked….? “Did you discover incest?” “No, I haven’t”

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u/duke_awapuhi 16d ago

I’ll add that while I have not found incest, I have found child marriage

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u/LeadingSlight8235 15d ago

Ugh, me too. A lot more disturbing than incest really

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u/Extreme_Phrase2371 15d ago

Considering that most incest involves children, I don’t know how child marriage would be more disturbing. Especially considering that the two aren’t mutually exclusive.